Seckel

Good things often come in small packages. In the case of the diminutive Seckel, this could not be more truthful. The smallest of all commercially grown pears, Seckels are also the sweetest. So sweet in fact that they are sometimes called "sugar pears. The short, stubby fruit is 2 1/2 to 3 inches long and 1 1/2 to 2 inches in girth at its bell. The smooth skin is olive green with a glossy red blush that may cover nearly the entire pear. As the Seckel ripens, the olive-colored skin takes on a matte finish and the red darkens. Use any other European pear to pollinate.